HC Deb 12 March 1925 vol 181 cc1516-8
96. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been received in payment of debts incurred during the War, to date, from Allied and Dominion Governments, respectively; and whether any repayments of loans to foreign Governments made since the Armistice have been made to this country

Mr. CHURCHILL

As the answer involves many figures, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, which only calls for an affirmative or a negative reply?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think that information is furnished in the figures I am going to send to the hon. and gallant Member.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if any payments at all from our Allies have been received in respect of loans?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Yes, Sir. There have been payments received, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman will find, if he studies the answer which I am going to circulate, that one-half of the answer is taken up describing certain repayments which we have received.

Following is the answer:

1. Apart from various accounting adjustments, no sums in repayment of debts incurred by Allied Governments during the War period have been received by His Majesty's Government,

2. The following amounts in round figures have been received from Dominion and Colonial Governments under funding arrangements or otherwise:

Australia 9,550,000
South Africa 3,070,000
New Zealand 940,000
Newfoundland 393,000
Crown Colonies 2,492,000

War advances to Canada, amounting to approximately 179 million have been repaid by set-off against loans by Canada to this country.

3. The following repayments of loans to foreign Governments made since the Armistice have been effected:

Belgium.—£6½ millions (Post-Armistice Debt).

Austria.—£2½ millions, repaid in connection with the issue of the League of Nations Reconstruction Loan.

Czechoslovakia.—£2 millions (advance by Wheat Commission for purchase of flour).

Repayment has also been made in full of the Relief Loans to Lithuania and Latvia amounting to £16,812 and £20,170 respectively.

Arrangements have been made for the repayment by annual instalments (with interest) of the Relief Debts of Poland, Rumania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Esthonia.